RGIII Upbeat Prior to Surgery: ‘See You Guys Next Season’

LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 30: Quarterback Robert Griffin III #10 of the Washington Redskins celebrates after the Redskins defeated the Dallas Cowboys 28-18 at FedExField on December 30, 2012 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)(Credit: Rob Carr/Getty Images)

LANHAM, Md. (CBSDC/AP) — Robert Griffin III is taking a positive approach as he undergoes surgery to repair at least one torn ligament in his right knee Wednesday morning.

The Washington Redskins star quarterback was actively posting on Twitter in the hours leading up to the procedure, which will be performed by renowned orthopedic surgeon, Dr. James Andrews.

“Thank you for your prayers and support,” Griffin tweeted. “I love God, my family, my team, the fans, & I love this game. See you guys next season.”

The message was retweeted thousands of times within minutes. Griffin has more than 723,000 followers on the social media network.

Baylor coach Art Briles confirmed to USA Today and The Associated Press on Tuesday night that the Redskins rookie has a torn lateral collateral ligament. He said the surgery also will determine whether Griffin has damaged the ACL in that knee.

The procedure is expected to last roughly two hours.

The expected recovery time from the surgery varies greatly depending on the severity of the damage to his ACL.

The AP reports a torn LCL requires a rehabilitation period of several months, possibly extending into training camp and the start of next season. A torn ACL is a more severe injury, typically requiring nine to 12 months of recovery, they add.

An ESPN report published Wednesday morning stated Griffin was to undergo a total reconstruction of his knee, encompassing both ligaments, but could be ready in time for the start of the regular season. The report says a recovery time of six to eight months is expected.

Griffin tore his ACL in the same knee while playing for Baylor in the third game of the 2009 season and missed the rest of the year. He was injured on the opening drive against Northwestern State but kept playing until halftime.

(TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)